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Diss

The market town of Diss, nestled in the Waveney Valley, South Norfolk, has developed around its great mere - or lake - which is thought to have been created by the collapse in the underlying chalk layer towards the end of the last ice age.

With more than 7,000 residents living in Diss, the town also serves a recognised rural catchment area of approximately 40,000 people.

The town centre features a number of Georgian and Edwardian buildings, as well as a public park and a number of thriving shopping streets and the market place.

Diss, a runner up in the Norfolk Town Of The Year Awards, is one of seven UK towns chosen to trial the Italian Cittaslow scheme which is a project aimed at counteracting the modern ethos of fast food and the fast pace of life.

Cittaslow - which translated from Italian means slow city or town - was adopted by the south Norfolk town in March 2006. The campaign has a wide range of goals from encouraging young people to fulfil their promise, valuing the elderly, providing good services for visitors and preserving heritage. One of the project's key aims is to also cut the carbon footprint by encouraging shopkeepers to source locally-produced food and getting people to shop locally.

To the south-west of Diss town centre lies Fair Green which was first granted a Royal Charter in 1185 and such activities as bull baiting and cock fighting took place until the fair closed in 1872. The Green is still the location for modern day travelling fairs and circuses.

The town also has two modern industrial estates to the east of the town centre and benefits from being on the main London to Norwich railway line. The local area also features the famous Steam Museum and Gardens at Bressingham and Banham Zoo.